(Photo: Stan Szeto / USA TODAY Sports)
In trading for center Carl Soderberg, Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka threw a curveball to all those expecting the scoring-challenged club to make a splash by signing a 30-goal winger.
Soderberg, who turns 34 in October, tallied 23 goals and 49 points for the Colorado Avalanche last season, statistics that would have led the Coyotes in both categories. Chayka only had to part with defenseman Kevin Connauton and a 2020 third-round pick to acquire the Swedish-born forward.
On the surface, it might be an uninspiring deal for Coyotes fans hoping to acquire Jason Zucker, Phil Kessel or Max Pacioretty via trade — or those who pined for Jeff Skinner or Matt Duchene via free agency.